Preschool with a plus

A+ Academy aims to use technology to provide quality education

Students play at A+ Academy on Tuesday. The preschool opened on 25th Avenue in September.

Michelle Lepianka Carter | The Tuscaloosa News

By Jamon SmithStaff Writer

Published: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 11:29 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | A technology-oriented preschool has opened on the edge of downtown.

A+ Academy, 1920 25th Ave. near the Piggly Wiggly off Greensboro Avenue, opened in September, and the preschool’s director says its goal is to provide a high-quality preschool education.

“We’re not just a day care, we teach our children,” said Joseph Moreno, director and owner of A+ Academy. “We want them to be ... considered gifted when they leave here.”

Moreno said A+ Academy teaches math, reading, English, science, Spanish, sign language, technology, and preschool basics like shapes, colors and art. Students go on field trips and participate in storytime, music and recreational activities.

“Our students change classes and from one subject to another every hour,” Moreno said. “The classes they take depend on how well they do on their academic assessments. We assess them when they come here so we know what level we need to teach them at and how to challenge them.”

The Birmingham native said the preschool uses technology that parents can also use for at-home learning.

“We have TechTime, which students can use to follow an online curriculum that their parents can help them with when they get home, so the learning is consistent,” he said. “Using that, we create an avatar (a digital symbol) of each child, and the children teach their own avatars to learn, but they’re really learning themselves.”

Tuition for A+ Academy is $7,500 a year, which is $150 a week. Moreno said scholarships are available.

“Right now, we have open enrollment for our scholarships so anyone, no matter what their income level, can get one,” Moreno said.

“Our doors are open to all children anywhere throughout the city, but we focus on the children in this area,” Moreno said. “We’re also providing one free week of child care for any parents who are unemployed and looking for a job. We ask that they line up all of their job interviews in one week and during that week, we’ll take care of your child for free.”

<p>TUSCALOOSA | A technology-oriented preschool has opened on the edge of downtown. </p><p>A+ Academy, 1920 25th Ave. near the Piggly Wiggly off Greensboro Avenue, opened in September, and the preschool's director says its goal is to provide a high-quality preschool education.</p><p>“We're not just a day care, we teach our children,” said Joseph Moreno, director and owner of A+ Academy. “We want them to be ... considered gifted when they leave here.”</p><p>Moreno said A+ Academy teaches math, reading, English, science, Spanish, sign language, technology, and preschool basics like shapes, colors and art. Students go on field trips and participate in storytime, music and recreational activities.</p><p>“Our students change classes and from one subject to another every hour,” Moreno said. “The classes they take depend on how well they do on their academic assessments. We assess them when they come here so we know what level we need to teach them at and how to challenge them.”</p><p>The Birmingham native said the preschool uses technology that parents can also use for at-home learning.</p><p>“We have TechTime, which students can use to follow an online curriculum that their parents can help them with when they get home, so the learning is consistent,” he said. “Using that, we create an avatar (a digital symbol) of each child, and the children teach their own avatars to learn, but they're really learning themselves.”</p><p>Tuition for A+ Academy is $7,500 a year, which is $150 a week. Moreno said scholarships are available.</p><p>“Right now, we have open enrollment for our scholarships so anyone, no matter what their income level, can get one,” Moreno said. </p><p>“Our doors are open to all children anywhere throughout the city, but we focus on the children in this area,” Moreno said. “We're also providing one free week of child care for any parents who are unemployed and looking for a job. We ask that they line up all of their job interviews in one week and during that week, we'll take care of your child for free.”</p><p>For information about A+ Academy, go to alabamakids.org.</p><p>Reach Jamon Smith at jamon.smith@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0204.</p>